Having to overcome unexpected problems is a hallmark of entrepreneurship. Almost every business owner, artist, maker, and creative we know has had to deal with countless unexpected problems that arise in the journey and so we asked some brilliant folks from the community to share their stories of the unexpected problems they’ve faced along the way.

Jean And Judy

One unexpected challenge we faced was finding the right packaging for our rings. We needed a box large enough to fit the certificate while still keeping the small ring box secure so it wouldn’t move around during shipping. At the same time, we wanted the packaging to be practical, sustainable, and free of unnecessary materials. After some trial and error, we came up with a solution: adding a thank-you and care tips card that could be curved to stabilize the ring box. This simple yet effective adjustment was a big relief and allowed us to finalize our packaging back in 2022, ensuring our products were ready for launch. Read more>>

Chloe Cook

Working in a creative industry is full of unexpected turns, especially as an independent artist without the stability of a label behind you. I have struggled for most of my musical career to feel like the songs I release are best representing me as an artist. I have been in a few bands in the past that were much more collaborative projects, and aspects of working in those bands were some of the best moments of my life thus far, but I always wondered what things would be like if I had full creative control over every element of the music I was putting out. After years of collaboration, my first taste of a solo project deemed to be really difficult because I didn’t quite know how to navigate finding my own sound. Turns out bearing your soul to the entire world through the internet is not an easy feat. It took years of experimentation in my writing and a long and disheartening search for a producer who understood how to communicate my vision in a way that I felt represented by. Read more>>

Ashleigh Flynn

For me as an older musician, one challenging part has been weathering the shift into all things digital. Streaming and social media feel like a both a blessing and a curse. One the one hand, our music is easily accessible with far less waste…but on the other hand we, like other independent artists, are under the thumb of the algorithm and in an unmoored information environment which is pretty scary and can feel disempowering… We had our social media account hacked in 2021, and it was incredibly destabilizing to have put so much energy into rebuilding the connections that had been fostered largely on the road. Read more>>

Katya Karlova

I struggled with body image issues and body dysmorphia my entire life, like many other girls, women, and though less discussed, men as well. It took many years to confront these issues and even more years of self-work to overcome them. I began posting to Instagram as part of my campaign to conquer my issues. What better way to face your fear than to show it to the world? I shared my whole story; from the shame I felt for many years about my curves to how the agonizing battle of constantly fighting negative intrusive thoughts affects your mental health. I also shared how modeling and boudoir photography helped me heal from a decades-long battle with myself about my body. Read more>>

Ashley Newman

One fun fact that many people do not know about me is that I taught myself how to build my own website- from start to finish! The learning curve was huge, but I can proudly say that any changes and updates made on my website are made by me. As a lifelong learner, I turned a problem into an opportunity to learn a brand new skill. Read more>>